Attachment security, parent peer management practices, and peer relationships in preschoolers

Although parent-child attachment is associated with a broad range of child outcomes, relatively little is known about the childrearing practices of parents of securely attached children. The links were investigated between attachment and parent peer management practices, and how each is related to children's home-based peer networks. Associations between parent peer management practices, attachment security, and peer relationships were examined in a sample of preschoolers and their parents. More securely attached girls were more involved in initiating their peer contacts, but these effects were not found for boys. Home-based peer networks were related to parent management practices but not to attachment security.